Observational study on the consumption of recreational drugs and alcohol by Swiss travelers

BMC Public Health

Nicolas Senn¹  Blaise Genton³  Serge de Vallière²  Céline Klunge-de Luze¹ 

[1] Department of Ambulatory Care and Community Medicine, Travel clinic, University of Lausanne, Bugnon 44, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland;Department of Medicine, Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Bugnon 44, 1011, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland;Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland

关键词: Trip;    Behavior;    Risk;    Recreational drugs;    Drugs;    Alcohol;    Travel;   

Others  :  1122918
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-14-1199

 received in 2014-05-27, accepted in 2014-11-10,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Studies carried out on specific travelers’ groups such as students describe an increase in the consumption of alcohol and drugs during travel and vacation time. The present study investigates the risk behaviors (alcohol and drugs) in a general adult population in Switzerland travelling abroad who visited a travel clinic before departure.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted in a travel clinic between January 2006 and December 2008. 14,496 patients came to the clinic for a pre-travel consultation. 3,537 of them answered a questionnaire about their life habits in Switzerland and during their last trip. The only exclusion criterion was an age inferior to 18 years old.

The consumption habits of drugs and at-risk alcohol intake (8 standard drinks (SD) per week for women and 15 SD for men) was analyzed according to gender, sex, destination and profession. Predictors of adopting a risky behavior between habits in Switzerland and during their previous trip were also analyzed.

Results

7% (229/3477) of participants declared having at-risk alcohol consumption in Switzerland and 14% (473/3275 [95% CI 13–16]) during their trip. 9% (332/3527) of the participants used drugs in Switzerland and 5% (178/3481) during their trip. Risk factors for at-risk alcohol consumption during a trip were: at-risk alcohol consumption in Switzerland (OR 31[95% CI 21–45]), smoking (1.7 [95% CI 1–2]), use of drugs in Switzerland (OR 2.2 [95% CI 2–3]), leisure travel (OR 1.6 [95% CI 1–2]) and managerial professions (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1–3]). Risk factors for the use of drugs during a trip were: alcohol consumption in Switzerland (OR 2.1 [95% CI 1–4]), smoking (OR 1.9 [95% CI 1–3]), and use of drugs in Switzerland (OR 29.7 [95% CI 19–45]).

Conclusions

At-risk alcohol consumption and, to a lesser extent, use of drugs, affect a large number of travelers which expose them to health problems during a trip. Exploring the alcohol and drugs consumption patterns of people visiting a travel clinic should be part of the pre-travel routine consultation and would allow to identifying people who would benefit most from a specific prevention.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Klunge-de Luze et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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